Congress leader Udit Raj on 20 September 2026 alleged that money power and electronic voting machines (EVMs) had been misused 'on a large scale' in the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections, even as he called for self-reflection within his own party. The remarks came after the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), swept three of four posts in the DUSU polls held on Saturday.

Poll Results: ABVP Dominates, NSUI Draws a Blank

The ABVP secured three of the four top positions in the DUSU elections, while the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), backed by the Indian National Congress (INC), failed to win a single post. The lone exception was the vice-president's post, which went to independent candidate Deepanshu Shokeen. The result marks a significant setback for the Congress's student organisation at one of India's most high-profile university polls.

What Udit Raj Said

Reacting to the outcome, Udit Raj said, 'Money power and EVMs have been misused on a large scale. Apart from that, we also need to do some self-introspection.' He acknowledged the organisational gap between his party and the ruling establishment, adding, 'So, on one hand, while Gen Z is so angry with them, we also need to look at how they manage to win elections. Elections are won through management and systems. In the DUSU election, the actual election is fought by RSS and BJP. Thus, their strength is far greater and much more organised. Even if the majority is not with them, the results end up coming in their favour.'

The CJP Credit Row

Raj was also asked whether the Congress's poor showing was linked to the credit for the Jantar Mantar protest being claimed by people associated with the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP). He dismissed the suggestion, saying, 'If they took credit for the public's anger, they would have contested the election and won. Why didn't they contest? When the Gen Z movement happened, 95 per cent of the people came out of the general atmosphere as victims themselves. It was a coalition of various parties and organisations altogether; it was not solely led by CJP.'

Pappu Yadav Weighs In

Purnia MP Pappu Yadav also reacted sharply to the DUSU results, insisting the defeat did not signal the end of the Congress. 'No one can drown Congress, no one can finish Congress. Congress's ideology is one of global welfare and humanity. Congress is finished by Congressmen themselves,' he said. Yadav went further, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) deployed every available resource during the campaign. 'In Delhi University, BJP uses every means, inducement, money, coercion, manipulation, and crores and crores of rupees, liquor, alcohol… everything is served. We also have our mistakes. We do not work by looking at Rahul Gandhi's struggle; we work looking at our personal interests,' he said.

What This Signals

The DUSU result continues a pattern of ABVP dominance at Delhi University, one of India's most politically watched campuses. For the Congress, a shutout at the student level underscores deeper organisational challenges ahead of upcoming state and national electoral cycles. The internal candour from both Raj and Yadav — rare in Indian opposition politics — suggests acknowledgment that the party's problems extend beyond external interference.